Past Lines Avenue, continuing north on Ringwood Avenue, known as Main Street during the beginning of the last century.

Photo: William Trusewicz Collection.

Beyond the Gaston Drew Feed Mill ( as seen on the previous page), on the east side of Ringwood Avenue, was what has been identified as the Drew House and later as the Ken Rhinesmith residence. This structure was located where the Dena Lane condominiums are now situated. It has also been said that between this house and the Feed Mill there was a gas station belonging to Bucky Sly. That station existed long before the Lukoil station and it's previous incarnations, Exxon and Esso.

Photo: Mike Holleran Collection.

A short distance further north is the intersection of what is now Ringwood Avenue and Railroad Avenue. Heading east, Railroad Avenue brought you to the Midvale railroad station as seen in the above view.

Photo: Mike Holleran Collection.

Photo: Mike Holleran Collection.

Two additional early views of the same intersection, looking north (left photo) and south (right photo).

Photo: Thomas J. Luddy Collection.

Photo: Unofficial.Net (1/2007).

The postcard view from the 1930's showing the Midvale Post Office (right), Shippee's Pharmacy (center), the Firehouse and the intersection of Railroad Avenue. The Post Office building replaced the wooden structure as seen in the color tinted photo above. You will also notice that the dirt road has now been paved. Railroad Avenue, on the right, as mentioned, ended at the Midvale Station.

Photo: Mike Holleran Collection.

The one block of Railroad Avenue between Main Street (Ringwood Avenue) and the station can be seen here. This view looks west..

Photo: William Trusewicz Collection.

On Railroad Avenue a number of residences and businesses have sprung up over the years. Above, from a 1905 photo, is one of the earlier stores identified as John Schiaffino's. This structure is also seen in the photo above, to the left of the brick, "Columbia Hotel" (later known as Dondero's).

Photo: Unofficial.Net (2007).

Photo: Unofficial.Net (2007).

The same street in 2007 with the Columbia Hotel as it appears today in the left photo. The right photo shows the Schiaffino store that is now solely a residence. The brick building to it's left, that now houses Flip's Tavern was also built as a hotel..

Photo: William Trusewicz Collection.

Getting to and from Midvale was not always by rail or buggy. The above photo is an example of early bus transportation. This view appears to be in Paterson at the intersection of Ellison and Washington Streets, behind City Hall.

Photo: Unofficial.Net Collection.

Back on Ringwood Avenue; prior to being known as Shippee's, the building housed Tice's Pharmacy. For some time, the second floor was a doctor's office operated by another member of the Tice family. The Coon Tice Hotel was situated where the current Wanaque Post Office now stands (see more below).

Photo: Wanaque Diamond Jubillee Booklet, 1993.

Photo: Unofficial.Net (2/2007).

Across from Shippees Pharmacy, on the northwest corner of Ringwood Avenue and Railroad Avenue sits what once was the Borough Garage (617 Ringwood Avenue) as seen in the 1927 photo on the left. The building became a number of other businesses over the years and was recently Catch-a-Tan and now the Elite martial arts school.

Photo: William Trusewicz.

A current Wanaque fixture is the Il Palazzo restaurant and Pizzeria at 600 Ringwood Avenue. The above photo taken during it's construction also shows the previous business at the location, the Wanna-Q Pizza. Prior to this it was called the Top Grill, a drive-in.

Photo: Unofficial.Net Collection.

Photo: Unofficial.Net (12/2006).

Diagonally across from Il Palazzo sits our current Municipal Building. The postcard view (left) is of the Community House (also known as the Club or Hall). According to Jeanette Biggio's History of Wanaque, as written in the 1968 Jubilee booklet; "In 1920 the Community House was constructed with a substantial contribution from Mayor Carter and donations of other townspeople. It was a local building project. The timbers of the building came out of the neighboring woodlands."

Photo: Mike Holleran Collection.

Another view of the Municipal Building. Note the small residence to the right. This structure had housed the Passaic County Board of Social Services "up-county" office through the 1970's. The building was torn down some years ago as the structure was in poor condition. The property remains vacant except for a garage building at the rear.

Photo: Mike Holleran Collection.

Looking further north with the intersection of Pellington Street on the left. The "Mechanic's Hall" and the "Midvale Garage" are on the right.

Photo: Unofficial.Net Collection.

Photo: Unofficial.Net (3/2007).

This postcard image on the left is of the Mechanics Hall located north of Belmont Avenue, a short distance before Melrose Avenue. The structure still exists as an apartment house with an adjacent auto body shop, Euroclass.

Just north of the Mechanics Hall stands what was more recently known as Robert's Auto Repair, previously the Midvale Garage (the garage has since been rented and renamed again). This structure is located on the southeast corner of Melrose and Ringwood Avenues.

"In the early 1920's, this store was located at what is now 551 Ringwood Avenue in Wanaque. It was owned by John Pellington and his wife Frieda. Thet are at the extreme right of the photo. The boy at the left with the apron is John Pellington, Jr." The others in the photo are unknown. The Midvale School is visible at the rear right.

Photo: Paul Bryan Collection.

Photo: Unofficial.Net Collection.

The Midvale School opened in 1902 (left photo) and an expansion was completed in 1911 (right photo).The building served the community well as a school through 1968 when overcrowding necessitated the building of the current Wanaque School. The current school was constructed on the abandoned Erie rail yard. The Midvale School became the Gladys M. Rhinesmith Administration Building. The building was razed in January 2004 after being sold at auction. The school property was on Ringwood Avenue opposite the intersection of Melrose Avenue.

At the northeast corner of Melrose Avenue is what was most recently the Midvale Sweet Shop, more popularly known as Jordan's. This store is currently vacant. Just north is a row of stores including a barber shop and printer. Previously, as seen in the photo of the young gentleman dressed in his Sunday finest, the location was a Grand Union Superette.

Photo: Unofficial.Net Collection.

Another view looking south. This postcard image was dated July 1942. The truck on the right is the Drake's Cake delivery van.

Photo: Courtesy of Carole Russo.

Across Ringwood Avenue were several other stores as seen in this family photo. These structures still exist and would have been a short distance north of the Midvale School. The billboard is located in what is now a parking lot for the building next to it, currently a dance studio (this had been the Rhinesmith store and Midvale Post Office as seen in photos below). This photo is taken in front of a residence located at the northeast corner of Ringwood Avenue and Furnace Avenue. This photo is of the contributor, Carole Russo (Cothran) and family member Peter Egan. Carole writes that the house "was originally a restaurant that my grandparents owned. I believe they must have ran it in the mid 40's". There are more photos of the building below. According to Doris Trusewicz (Conklin), the same building, referred to as the Empire Hotel below, was built by her grandfather in the late 1800's.

In case you are wondering what is depicted on the Rheingold Beer ad on the billboard, see below:

Photo: Paul Bryan Collection.

Photo: Paul Bryan Collection.

Two postcard images of the Ringwood Avenue, Furnace Avenue intersection. In the Empire Hotel photo, the Post Office is located in the building on the right side of the image. It is also the building in the left photo. This post office building experienced a number of varied businesses and is currently the office of Lembo and Gray, Accountants. Just prior, it was the office of Armold Cohen, Attorney. In the mid-50's the stores located there sold dry goods, clothing, and there was also a seafood store (see below).

In the postcard on the right, the building at the far left of the photo is the Coon Tice Hotel as seen in a postcard image above.

The above close up of the photo on the right shows what could be had at the shops. According to William Truseewicz, the fish monger at this location would often peddle his fish using a lined wicker basket and go to customers as far away as Mahwah. This photo from about 1954 is of Carole and Eva Egan in the front yard of the building described above. The original wrap-around porch of the building has already been removed.

Photo: Courtesy of Carole Russo.

Photo: Unofficial.Net Collection.

Photo: Mike Holleran Collection.

The Midvale Post Office changed locations a number of times. In the above Russo Ringwood Avenue photo the building next to the Rheingold billboard was the site of the structure pictured directly above, the J.C. and W.H. Rhinesmith store. It would have been across Ringwood Avenue from the Post Office in the previous horse and buggy photos. The postcard image on the right shows the same building looking northwest. The Union House is visible in the center of the photo.

Photo: Mike Holleran Collection.

Another view of the Rhinesmith Store.

Photo: Mike Holleran Collection.

The Union House was originally known simply as Pooles Hotel and the above photo depicts how it originally appeared. It was later added on to as seen in the below photos.

Photo: Unofficial.Net Collection.

Photo: Mike Holleran Collection.

These two postcard views of John Poole's Union House hotel. Poole's is directly across from the Empire Hotel, on the northwest corner of Ringwood and Furnace. The photo on the right is dated at about 1910. Below, the building's current configuration as a Rita's ice cream store and deli on the lower level and apartments on the upper floors. After having existed as the Union House, the lower floor business was also a tavern that went under various names and was also as a go-go bar for a short period. For some time the bar competed with the America House that was located in the building to the right, now a vacant lot.

Photo: Unofficial.Net (12/2006).

Views of Ringwood Avenue traveling further north.

Photo: Unofficial.Net Collection.

Photo: Unofficial.Net Collection.

Photo: Unofficial.Net (1/2007).

Opposite the above row of homes is the Midvale United Methodist Church.

Photo: Mike Holleran Collection.

Photo: Courtesy of the Midvale United Methodist Church.

For additional photos, including the church's original appearance and location, and it's history, click here.

Photo: Unofficial.Net Collection.

Photo: Unofficial.Net Collection.

A postcard view of Greenwood Lake Turnpike (Main Street, Ringwood Avenue) somewhere in the northern part of Midvale.

Photo: Paul Bryan Collection.

Nearing what is now the Ringwood border, near the Conklintown Road intersection with Ringwood Avenue (then Main Street) stands another of Wanaque's early industries. Charles and Henry Ricker started a knitting mill at this location in 1907. Later, as the postcard image shows, the structure was known as the Hercules Manufacturing Company. More recently the location was known as the Country Furniture Outlet and then turned into it's current configuration, a grocery market, liquor store, child care facility and martial arts school.